Ruffling mechanism for sewing machines



C. W. THOMAS. RUFFLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES. APPLICATION nuzu nc.9, 191's.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I- INVENTOR IBY c. w. THOMAS. RUFFLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-9| I919- 1,%12,93D Patented Apr- 18, 1922.

4 $HEETSSHEET 2.

INVENTOR, 6mm: h/iimm BY I ATTORNEY C. W. THOMAS. RUFFLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED 050.9, 1919.

1 A1 Q,903 Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

4 $HEETSSHEET 3.

I! If I IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR ATTORNEY- 7 c. w; THOMAS. RUFFLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-9, 1919- Patented'Apr. 18, 1922.

4 SHEETS S HEET 4.

W. M m f a A TTORA/EY l3 S if l? CARLYLE VI. THOMAS, OF BRIEGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, AS SIGNOR TO THE SINGER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ACORPORATION OF NEW J EBSEY.

RUFFLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Specification of Letters Batent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

Application filed December 9, 1919. Serial No. 343,532.

T 0 all whom 62 may concern:

Be itknown that I, CARLYLE W. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ruffling Mechanisms for Sewing Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in sewing machines for ruining and stitching fabrics and has for its primary object to provide a mechanism of this character whereby products may be effected by a single operation that heretofore required a multiple of operations, in consequence lessening the cost of manufacture of such products and at the same time substantially enhancing the appearance of the latter.

To the attainment of the object of this in vention a plurality of ruffling blades are arranged in superposed relation in amanner such that each of the ruftling blades acts on similar sides of fabrics to be united in superimposed relation by stitching.

In the present embodiment of the invcntion, the milling blades are adapted to be simultaneously actuated to perform their ruffle-forming movements either differentially or synchronously with respect to each other, according to the adjustment of the actuating mechanism. In order to permit the ruffling blades to simultaneously act upon several fabrics, particularly in differential relationship, there is provided a separating blade intermediate the rufliing blades, upon which separating blade the upper of the ruffling blades operates to ruflie a fabric without interfering with the operation of the lower rufliing blade upon another fabric. Suitable guides are preferably provided for the different plies of material, permitting of the uniting by stitching of the ruffled fabrics with a body garment in a single operation.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1'is a view in front side elevation of the front end portion of one form of commercial sewing machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in front end elevation of the machine as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in sectional elevation of 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow substantially in the plane A, B, Fig. 1. Fig.

5 is a view in perspective of the clothresser employed. Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of the lower of the ruffiing blades and its supporting mechanism. Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of the edge folder for the b0dygarment combined with a separating blade. Fig. 8 is a view in cross-section of the inner radially projecting lever for transmitting movements to the upper of the two ruffling members, together with an adjustable stopblock. Fig. 9 is a view partly in section of the radially projecting lever and radially projecting crank-arm for transmitting movements to the lower of the two rufiiing members, together with the pivot-block and coupling. Fig. 10 is a View of the telescopically arranged ruffling blade actuating shafts. Fig. 11 is a view of one variety of product effected by the present invention.

The present invention is shown and will be described as applied to one form of Singer commercial sewing machine, but as the invention relates only to the construction and application of a multiple rufliing mechanism, only such reference will be made to the other elements of the 'machine as is deemed necessary for a proper understandin of its application.

eferring to the drawings, the sewing ma chine frame as usual includes a base 1, having the slide-plates 2 and 3, and an overhanging bracket-arm a, unsupported at its free end. Journaled in suitable bearings provided in the overhanging bracket-arm is the main or driving shaft 5 operatively connected, in the usual manner, with the needlebar 6 carrying the needle-'7, whereby vertioally reciprocatory stitch-forming move: ments are imparted. to the latter.

14;. The crank-arm 12. is permanentlyse- V in the crank-arm 12. In like manner, the

cured to one end of a U-shaped arm 18 of which the other end carries a second crankarm 19'. The crank-arms 12 and 19 are substantially parallel and it is to be understood that by means of their rigid connection with each other, the crank-arms are simultaneously vibrated under the action of the.

pitnian 10.

Journ'aled in'a bearing provided by the boss 17 is a hollow rock-shaft 20 in turn forming a bearing for a rock-shaft 21 arranged telescopically within'and longer than shaft 20. Secured by set-screw 22 upon shaft 20 adjacent the boss 17 is the hub of a lever 23 provided with a radially extending slot 24 arranged opposite to a: groove 25 formed washer 34 positioned adjacent an index-plate 35, the described construction serving to securely. hold the slide-block 32 against accidental movement, but permitting the ready adj ustinent thereof in a manner well known.

A similar connection is provided intermediate the lever 23 and crank arin- 12- the slideblock 36 being indicated'by dotted lines,

with the exception that a crank-pin 37 is employed instead of thewing-nut 33 to se cure the slide-bl0ck 36 in adjusted position. The levers 23 and 26 are preferably each provided with an adjustable stop-block 38 secured in position by means of a screw 39, a washer 4l0-being interposed between the head of thescrew and the lever.

Secured by screws, as ll, upon the forward end of shaft2l is a shaft crank 42 to which adjustably attached. by screws as 43, a supporting plate 44L. Pivota lly sustain'ed on the plated l by pivot screw 45 is a blade carii-ying lever 4-6. to one arm of which is suitably secured the laterally oflset shank of lower 'i'ul'lii ig blade 47 and of which the other'arni terniiiiat es'iua fo rwardl y projecting finger d8." Formed integr'alwith the lever ddis linger-piece 49 I provided with an elongated aperture 50 through"which extends a threaded rod 51 suitably secured iii-a projection 52 on the supporting plate Surrounding the rod 51 is a coiled spring 53 interposed between the finger-piece 49 and an adjusting nut 54;

threaded'uponi the rod. By the adjustment 'otthe nut 54 it' is evident that the ruffiing blade 47 is caused to" yielding-1y bear down wardly with the desired pressure. However, for the insertion or removal of-the work, it is desirable to lift the l'uil'lillg blade against the action of the spring and to this end the finger 4E8 overlies the laterally projecting end of a blade-liftingarni adj ustably secured upon the usual cloth-'presser bar 56, carrying the cloth-presser 57, adapted to be lifted in the usual manner.

An upper ruflling blade 58 is supported by and actuated from shaft 20 by operative connections similar to the described supporting and actuating connections of ruffling blade 47 with shaft 21', with the difference that it projects laterally from its supporting plate in the opposite direction from blade l-T, so that it is positioned in direct superposed relation with respect. to blade 47, in advance of theneedle. By means of the described actuating connections, it is apparent that either or both of the two rulliing blades may be thrown out of operation by shifting the slide-blocks 32 or 36 into alinement with the fulcrum of the crank-arms 1,2 and 19. Further, while the two rufliing blades in operation are simultaneously advanced and retracted, the moveinents of each may, by adjustment, be considerably longer than the other and consequently faster, or may be alike as may-be desired. v

For certain classes of work it would be possible to have the upper ruffiing blade operate upon the upper surface of the lower ruflling blade to ruille a strip of fabi"ic;led

between the blades, but for rendering the machine capable of a greater variety of products obtained by various adjustments of the actuating mechanism for the 'rufliing blades, it is desirable to employ an additioiial element upon whichthe upper rufflin blade 58 o )ei'ates to ruille the material.

C '1 t1' ,1. ---'--L111I 0 115 out a sepaiating hCtCb 09 is intei- J. .1 posed between the t o ruliiing blades, being suitably attachedto the laterally projecting end of an arm 60 depending from a support 61, ad ustably secured by screws as 62 upon a lug 63 pro ecting from the boss; 17. By the provision of this separating blade, the milling blades are free to individually per form their functions" without nterfering with each other. I

The lower i'u'i'lliiig blade 47 operates upon a str p of material pass ng over separating blade 64 which divides the body garmentin Fig. 11 of the drawings, a'bOdy garment' I a is directed to the stitch-foMiihg-mechaQ nisin by the edge fol'ding guide. 65, an inter mediate strip of fabric 7) is led over the lower separating blade 6% and is rufiied by the blade 47. while an upper ply of fabric 0 is led over the upper separating blade 59 where it is acted upon by the upper ruffling blade 58. it is evident that the intermediate ply b may extend any distance upon both sides of the needle, but the upper ply c is limited at one side by the arm 60 which may serve as an edge-guide, if desired. The product obtained is very pleasing in appearance, for owing to the fact that both ruiiling blades operate upon similar sides of the respective fabrics, the ruffles lie in the same direction and may vary in fullness to any desired extent within the limits of adjustment of the actuating mechanism.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I. claim herein is- 1. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming and cloth-feeding mechanism, of rufiiing mechanism for simultaneously rufliing a plurality of plies of fabric independently of each other comprising a plurality of rufiiing blades arranged in superposed relation to operate upon the plies of fabric on the same sides of the fabric position, and actuating mechanism for said ruftling blades. 4

2. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forn'nng and cloth-feeding mechanism, of rutliing mechanism for simultaneously ruiiling a plurality of plies of fabric independently of each other comprising a plurality of ruffiing blades arranged in superposed relation to operate upon the plies of fabric on the same sides of the fabric position, actuating mechanism for said ru'lfling blades, and means for adjusting said actuating mechanism to vary the extent of movement of said. ruflling blades.

In a sewing machine, the combination *ith stitch-forming and cloth-feeding mechanism, of rufiling mechanism for simultaneously ruiiiing a plurality independently of each other comprising a plurality of ruiliing blades arranged in superposed relation to operate upon the plies of fabric on the Samesites of the fabric position, actuating mechanism for said rufiling blades, and a guide for a body garment with which the ruffled strips are united by said stitch-forming mechanism.

t. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming and cloth-feeding mech anism, of ruffling mechanism for simultaneof plies of fabric plurality of plies of fabric independently of each other comprising aplurality of rutiling blades arranged in superposed relation to operate upon the plies of fabric on the same sides of the fabric position, actuating mechanism for said ruiiling blades, means for adjusting said actuating mechanism to vary the exously rufiling a.

tent of movement of said rufliing blades relatively to each other, and a guide for a body-garment with which the ruflied strips of fabric are united by the stitch-forming mechanism.

5. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming and cloth-feeding mechanism, of rufliing mechanism for simultaneously rufliing a plurality of plies of fabric independently of each other comprising a plurality of ruffling blades arranged in superposed relation to operate upon the lies of fabric on the same sides of the fabric position, actuating mechanism for said ruffling blades, a separator-blade interposed between the plies of fabrics to be ruffled, and means for supporting said separator-blade.

6. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming and cloth-feeding mechanism, of rufiiing mechanism for simultaneously ruifiing a plurality of plies of fabric independently of each other comprising a plurality of ruiiiing blaces arranged in superposed relation to operate upon the plies of fabric on the same sides of the fabric position, actuating mechanismfor said rufiiing blades, a guide for a body-garment, a plurality of blades for separating the several plies of fabric, and supporting means for the separating blades.

7. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming and cloth-feeding mechanism, of rufiling mechanism for simultaneously ruffling a plurality of plies of fabric independently of each other comprising a plurality of ruffling blades arranged in superposed relation to operate upon the plies of fabric on the same sides of the fabric position, actuating mechanism for said ruffiing blades. a blade separating the plies of fabric to he ruffled, and a supporting arm for the separating blade adapted to serve as an edge-guide for one of said plies.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

, CARLYLE W; THOMAS. 

